RELATION OF IMMUNE DEPRESSION AND B-CELL STIMULATION DURING DEVELOPMENT OF DELAYED-HYPERSENSITIVITY TO SOLUBLE-ANTIGENS

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  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (2) , 265-272
Abstract
A comparison was made of the effects of cyclophosphamide (CY) pretreatment and i.v. injection [into guinea pigs] of a high dose of antigen on delayed hypersensitivity induced by proteins in Freund''s incomplete and complete adjuvants. Five antigens were studied: ovalbumin (OA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), bovine .gamma.-globulin (BGG), DNP5-BGG [dinitrophenylated bovine .gamma.-globulin] and DNP5O-BGG. A spectrum of reactivity was detected depending upon the ability of the antigen to stimulate B[bone marrow-derived]-cell and T[thymus-derived]-cell activity. Bovine serum albumin and BGG behave as relatively weak antigens in which the T-cell response, measured by delayed hypersensitivity, is easily suppressed by i.v. antigen, and the B-cell modulating system, revealed by CY sensitivity, is poorly stimulated. These proteins, injected i.v., are weak stimulators of antibody-dependent Arthus reactions. OA, DNP5-BGG and DNP5O-BGG behave as strong antigens, resisting suppression of the T-cell response by soluble antigen and exhibiting (in Freund''s incomplete adjuvant) a strongly developed CY sensitive, B-cell modulating system. Strong Arthus reactivity is readily demonstrated following i.v. administration of these antigens. A dissociation was demonstrated between B-cell modulation of T-cell function and unresponsiveness induced by i.v. antigen. The failure to reverse the latter type of unresponsiveness by cyclophosphamide pretreatment suggests that separate mechanisms are involved in these systems.